California rock lizard

California rock lizards - Petrosaurus
Baja blue rock lizard
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Iguania
Family:	Phrynosomatidae
Genus:	Petrosaurus Boulenger, 1885[1]
Species
See text

The California rock lizards are a genus (Petrosaurus) of New World lizards in the family Phrynosomatidae.[2]

Geographic range

They are endemic to southern California, United States, and Baja California and Baja California Sur, Mexico.[3]

Habitat

This lizard species lives almost exclusively on rock outcrops, boulder piles, and canyon walls, where it shelters under rocks. Their habitat consists of arid and semiarid foothills and canyons along the western margin of the Colorado Desert.[4]

Reproduction

The courtship begins shortly after emergence in early spring. The eggs are laid around June and July.

Predators

The few predators that could pursue this lizard are collared lizards and avian predators, such as hawks, ravens, and roadrunners.

Species

The genus Petrosaurus contains four species.

Image	Scientific Name	Common Name	Distribution
	Petrosaurus mearnsi (Stejneger, 1894)	banded rock lizard	southern California, United States, and Baja California, Mexico
	Petrosaurus repens (Van Denburgh, 1895)		Baja California and Baja California Sur, Mexico
	Petrosaurus slevini (Van Denburgh, 1922)	banded rock lizard	Baja California, Mexico
	Petrosaurus thalassinus (Cope, 1863)	Baja blue rock lizard[5]	Baja California Sur, Mexico

References

1. Dahms Tierleben. www.dahmstierleben.de.
2. Smith, H.M. and E.D. Brodie, Jr. 1982. Reptiles of North America, A Guide to Field Identification. Golden Press. New York. pp. 110-111.
3. Stejneger, Leonhard and Thomas Barbour. 1917. A Check List of North American Amphibians and Reptiles. Harvard University Press. Cambridge, Massachusetts. pp. 50-52.
4. "Camping & Outdoor Gear Reviews, Tips & Guides - Outdoor with J". 3 September 2018.
5. The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.